Black Jack~ A home tour

 

…In this land of coconuts

There is a home…a beach house,

Maybe 100 steps from the ocean

Built when folks came in droves to our little town in the 1960’s

And built concrete homes with cooling terrazzo floors

And ceiling fans that groaned as they spun. Providing needed movement in the air.

Now….so so many of those small steadfast concrete soldiers, marking a generation, are torn down

and replaced with bigger, shinier. Not always better.

But not Black Jack.

He remains true to his roots. Unchanged. Except for his Rad new color.

It is slimming you know.

ok ok…Maybe I named him that. Remember the gum of the 60’s?
They call it their funky Beach Shack.

Even the coolio carport is calmly bracing bougainvillea  and Mandevilla vines that complacently poke their heads through.

Flirting with the black.

The surrounding bananas and coconuts naturally drove the colors of the door and chairs…

And it SINGS,

Tropically confident…

My favorite thing about wandering around houses

and yes I make a habit of it. I have a feeling YOU may to.

Is sensing the soul of the home. The living work that goes on between the walls.

And Black Jack spills it in spades.

A home of music and art  and collections and beach finds through the years…

And the legacy continues….this jar below is filled with every treasure that one little chubby fingered grandchild handed to his Grandma.  In his whole 4 years.

Art….a collaboration of grandma and grandson adorns the hearth…

Black Jack…in all his cool black colors grows love and history. 

There is a music room/recording practice studio

and 4 bedrooms..

Original Dade county pine beamed ceilings…

An armoire filled with music cd’s. lipping full. No TV.

Louvered room doors share the air between spaces.

One whole wall houses a salt water aquarium…full of splendid colorful fish.

Most rescued from near death. A brilliant story.

they swim swim swim with the vibration of the whole house.

Everyone needs a little

blood pressure lowering community like this.

…and the living coral, gently moving. an underwater metronome.

The giving house.

Karen found the colors of the house in an old treasure….and so it flows…

A smallish Key West sized pool is planned for the back yard

Karen and one of her three daughters throw pots and make beautiful

succulent wall frames…and carefully create works…injected with beach soul

They have an etsy store here…check it out!

…and are working on another. i'll fill you in as it emerges. I know I will be ordering a succulent wall frame!

 

~~Jade has offered a generous 20% discount for her etsy store above

just mention LIMELOVE  ~~

i

Black Jack…. A cool cat of a home.

::meowr::

Joyful…

Feeling tropical…

 

In summer, the song sings itself.

~William Carlos Williams

The Sugar Shack~ A home tour

 

     ~Give me some sugar, baby 

       

Do you have *favorite* houses you drive by in your town?

You notice them, watch them grow…wonder what they look like inside? Try to cop a peek when you drive by at dusk?

 

No, you don’t? oh.

I admit it. I have a collection of them. And have  a particular affinity for the old ones…the cottages…the gems. The saved old souls…The sugar.

This is one of them. I’ve driven by this one so many times thru the years…

It was a rainy, dreary day when I first stepped inside….but this little beauty built in the 30’s was gracious and glowing.

I dare say , smiling.

(original Dade county pine floors}

Any one else may have bulldozed it 20 years ago…

Once covered in overgrown hedges with holes in the ceiling that looked up to the clouds.

But it was safeguarded and lovingly preserved by a local family

And it  was infused with warmth and soul…while retaining most original fixtures.

{I love these Hansel and Gretel windows and screens}

Lee Ann has a beautiful eye with a southern flair Think Garden and Gun…While talented husband Gene, an avid hunter/sportsman, did much of the work in this beautiful old soul.

 

 

                             {Great original built in cabinet….and yes, wine MAY be involved in home tours}

Kids art is everywhere. Family first in this sugar shack….Two beautiful daughters have an imprint in every room.

{Do you love this corkboard?…made of wine corks}

 

And while the kitchen was broadened and opened…

 

the living space remains  as it was originally

 

…and like any good cottage it isn’t linear. But quirkily moves and trips from room to room

 

 

With 5 panel doors and original hardware…loved that part

 

Hidden corners house daybeds. Cozy. sleep inducing. Particularly on this grey day.

Reminded me of summer camps. I think I counted 6 beds…

 

{adorable little mini rooms around corners…off larger rooms}

Outside was added a pool and sweet outdoor shower

One of the family’s favorite spots is what once was a car vestibule…

Turned outdoor dining room. Hugged in bougainvillea. Dinner under the stars happens here quite regularly.

Charming.

Another fabulous feature is the neighbors home….Wine glasses in hand, we traipsed over to meet a hidden gem of a house with a famed and perhaps even bawdy history.

Think elaborate ballrooms and parties galore…Butlers bells in each room.

A rare look into the history of this town…

…and Archie

But that will be a WHOLE oth.er post. Stay tuned.

Also stay tuned for Talented Lee Ann’s soon to be released Blog.

Go.

Tour your own  town under the discreet cloak of dusk….find a gem….a sugar shack.

Then barge in and take pictures.

Dare ya.